Senami Onsen
The Senami Onsen spa resort area on the Sea of Japan, just west of central Murakami, combines hot-spring bathing with expansive ocean views and vibrant beach life in summer. Many of the 12 spa hotels and inns in the area face the sea, while the rest are located around a street lined with shops and restaurants.
A side road leads up from the main street to Funto Park, a lookout point where a thick column of steam rises into the air as 95-degree (Celsius) water flows to the surface from deep underground. Hot-spring water from this well is distributed to the bathing facilities across Senami Onsen.
Hot water rich in calcium chloride and iron has been bubbling up from the ground at what is now Funto Park since 1904, when prospectors drilling for oil in the area hit a hot spring instead. The discovery led to the opening of Senami Onsen, which became famous for its picturesque seaside location.
Many of the spas in Senami Onsen welcome daytime bathers, and the hot-spring water can be enjoyed for free at three foot baths (ashiyu) across the area. A popular local snack you can cook yourself is onsen tamago, or “hot-spring eggs.” Eggs can be purchased at the information center along the main street, then boiled in a purpose-built container in Funto Park.